Kevin Santos shines as Letran survives EAC for back-to-back wins; JRU escapes Arellano

MANILA, Philippines – Kevin Santos submitted the finest game of his NCAA career as the Letran Knights notched their second straight win in the Season 100 men’s basketball tournament with a 75-73 escape versus the EAC Generals at the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Wednesday, September 25.

The 6-foot-7 Santos got the job done on both ends for the Knights, dropping a career-high 17 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting, together with 5 rebounds and 6 blocks. 

Thanks to Santos’ efforts, Letran rose to a 4-2 record — tying the Perpetual Altas at the No. 2 spot.

Fresh from a 20-point showing in Letran’s previous win against the league-leading College of St. Benilde Blazers, Deo Cuajao backed up Santos with 14 points built on three long bombs.

Jimboy Estrada sustained his all-around play with 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Paolo Javillonar racked up 10 markers and 5 boards for the Knights. 

King Gurtiza paced EAC in the loss with a game-high 19 points, but was held to a lowly 6-of-21 field goal clip.

Gelo Loristo and Kyle Jacob added 11 markers each for the Generals, who fell to a 2-4 slate. 

Like the Knights, the JRU Heavy Bombers hacked out a narrow 92-89 win against the Arellano Chiefs in the opening game of the day. 

JRU overcame a furious late-game rally by Arellano, where the latter turned a nine-point deficit with under a minute left, 78-87, to just a two-point disadvantage with 7.4 seconds to go, 89-91.

Arellano even had a chance to send the game into overtime after JRU’s Marvin Raymundo split his free throws with 6.7 ticks left, but Renzo Abiera missed the potential game-tying trey as time expired. 

Raymundo led the way for the Heavy Bombers with 21 points, while Shawn Argente poured in 20 markers on a healthy 7-of-11 field goal clip. 

For the Chiefs, Jeadan Ongotan topscored with 20 points, to go along with 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in the heartbreaking defeat.

JRU hiked its record to 2-4 — tied with EAC and the San Sebastian Stags, while Arellano remained at the bottom of the standings with a 1-5 card.

The Scores

First Game

JRU 92 – Raymundo 21, Argente 20, Guiab 18, Barrera 14, Medina 5, Panapanaan 4, Pangilinan 3, Benitez 2, Mosqueda 2, Lozano 2, Sarmiento 1, Ferrer 0, De Leon 0, Samontanes 0.

Arellano 89 – Ongotan 20, Capulong 15, Valencia 15, Vinoya 10, Camay 9, Abiera 8, Hernal 6, Borromeo 2, Geronimo 2, Libang 2, Estacio 0, Espiritu 0, Miller 0, Rosalin 0.

Quarters: 27-23, 49-48, 63-63, 92-89.

Second Game

Letran 75 – Santos 17, Cuajao 14, Estrada 11, Javillonar 10, Montecillo 9, Miller 8, Nunag 4, Jumao-As 2, Tagotongan 0, Galoy 0, Dimaano 0, Pradella 0, Baliling 0.

EAC 73 – Gurtiza 19, Loristo 11, Jacob 11, Doromal 7, Oftana 6, Ochavo 4, Pagsanjan 4, Luciano 3, Bacud 3, Lucero 2, Bagay 2, Postanes 1, Quinal 0, Devara 0, Umpad 0.

Quarters: 25-15, 47-33, 60-56, 75-73.

– Rappler.com